Paul Walton

Professor Paul Walton is a renowned academic in the Department of Chemistry at the University of York, specializing in bioinorganic chemistry. He holds a PhD from the University of Nottingham and completed postdoctoral research at the University of California, Berkeley. His research focuses on metalloenzymes, particularly lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) and their catalytic mechanisms. Walton has served as Chair of Dalton Transactions (2004–2008), Chair of Heads of Chemistry UK (2011–2013), and leads the GENIE project at Chalmers University. He has delivered over 200 international lectures, including keynote addresses at Harvard, Stanford, and leading institutions globally.

Walton’s research achievements include the discovery of the histidine brace active site in LPMOs and pioneering studies on enzyme-substrate interactions. His work bridges spectroscopy, theory, and structural biology to unravel catalytic pathways. He has been recognized with awards such as the RSC Joseph Chatt Award and the Royal Society Athena Prize (runner-up). His contributions extend to gender equality advocacy, including authoring influential papers on Simpson’s paradox in gender data interpretation. He collaborates internationally, notably with the University of Manchester and institutions in Sweden, Brazil, and the U.S.

• Education: PhD in Chemistry (University of Nottingham, 1990), Postdoctoral Fellowship (UC Berkeley, 1991–1993).
• Key Roles: Professor at York since 1999, Department Chair (2004–2010), Editorships, and leadership in diversity initiatives.
• Research Themes: LPMO mechanisms, copper-containing enzymes, enzyme repair pathways, and biofuel applications.
• Equality Work: Athena Swan review group member, GENIE project lead, and advocate for gender equity in STEM.